Episode 80-The Winning Hand
Irish Music Stories Podcast
When you’re tracing a song through six generations, and you’re digging into distinct versions of dance tunes carried by players from East Clare, you never know what card games and shipwrecks you might also uncover. This special episode—the last new story for a while—weaves together stories from John Tunney and Mary MacNamara, who grew up around generations of music in rural Ireland, with the tale of an American kid who played cards with her grandparents. * Find Paddy Tunney’s (restrung) Stone Fiddle .. and * Find Mary MacNamara’s * Listen to other episodes, and stay tuned to...
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Episode 79-Kesh v Glendart
Irish Music Stories Podcast
What is the U.S. Electoral College? And what does it have to do with The Kesh Jig and The Humours of Glendart? This election adjacent exploration of two popular jigs takes a look at the stories behind jig (and Presidential) contenders, and the process used to choose a winner. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: John Sullivan, Heather Carroll, Michael Craine, Adele Megann,...
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Episode 78-Tools of the Trad
Irish Music Stories Podcast
When you’re making an instrument, you’re forming something that can be used to design a melody. Or a musical life. This episode follows a precious flute’s unexpected journey. And flute makers Patrick Olwell and Eamonn Cotter, piper Colleen Shanks, and fiddle players Bob Childs and Pat O’Connor talk about what it’s like to carve an approach as musicians and craftspeople. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to . ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank...
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Episode 77-The Bunch of Keys
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Irish musicians, and writers, and home makers can all benefit by learning some rules and technical skills—and by allowing a little spontaneity and flexibility. But how much great technique do you need? Does that get in the way of the magic? In this episode, Nathan Gourley, Brendan Mulholland, and Sharon Murphy reflect on the alchemy of order and spontaneity: how rule following and rule breaking can make for a great journey; but how a total lack of plan can derail everything. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project,...
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Episode 76-The Power of the Local Pub
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Boston producer Brian O’Donovan made a lot of space for Irish music and culture. He was dedicated to sharing it widely. And though he presented music on formal stages and through his WGBH broadcast “A Celtic Sojourn,” casual, public Irish music sessions were ever important and enduring for him. This beloved leader lifted up traditional music. And he elevated the practice of ‘just going to the local pub’ into an act of radical community building. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to . ...
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Episode 75-Betting on the Punters
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Could traditional music sessions exist without listeners? Are the non-playing listeners in public spaces important for tune players? Here’s a brief podcast adaptation of a video response to this intriguing little question! _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to . ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, John Sigler, Randall Semagin, Ron Kral, Isaiah Hall, David Vaughan, Susan...
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Episode 74-Leaning in and Branching Out
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Communities. Forests. Families. All of these different ecosystems contain a lot of different components that weave and work together. And as people, plants, and pests carry on and creep around, rich and sometimes unlikely collaborations emerge. In this episode, with the help of Karine Polwart, Colin Farrell, and Steve Nardone, I’ll explore how friends, neighbors and families can blend; how humans and trees need and inspire one another; and how we also rely on birds, bees.. and rats. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this...
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Episode 73-Fruitful Fells Part Two
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In part one of the Fruitful Fells, we met modern and 19th century activists dedicated to making beauty available to current and future humans. In this episode, we learn how our heroes saved acres of woods and bushels of old ballads, and we follow enduring struggles in the crusade for preservation. As always, there’s plenty of beautiful music woven into these conversations with guests Mike Ryan, Alison Simcox, Douglas Heath, and Karl Alexander. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ...
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Episode 72-Fruitful Fells Part One
Irish Music Stories Podcast
There are little creatures, trees, ponds, and pedestrians all over the earth. And there are bushels of ballads about the charms of nature. And while there are ecological activists like Mike Ryan and 19th century Elizur Wright, and song collectors like Francis Child and Olive Dame Campbell who are out to enjoy and save the critters and the old songs… there are others who are less interested in preservation. This two-part story on the creation of Massachusetts’ Middlesex Fells Reservation takes a look at how trees, pedestrians, bikers, motorists, music collectors, and geese intersect. And...
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Episode 71-Missed Manners
Irish Music Stories Podcast
The weekly Irish music session is a specific niche affair, with a particular code of conduct. Gift giving also has its own rules, at least it has in the past. As older customs like traditional Irish music and wedding anniversary gifts have moved to the new world, have things adjusted? Does modern session behavior reflect wider social trends? Etiquette experts Barry Foy and Zina Lee walk me down the aisle of session (and wedding gift) etiquette, just a year before Barry’s Field Guide to the Irish Session celebrates its silver anniversary. _________________ For playlists,...
info_outlineHow do artists paint trad? And how do they capture the sounds and feelings—and the bigger stories behind Irish music and dance—in two dimensions? In conversations with Brian Vallely, James Gurney, Vincent Crotty, and Catharine Kingcome, host Shannon Heaton explores Travelling pipers, a dilapidated hotel in the Hudson Valley, Dudley Street dance hall in post WWII America, and a country home in County Clare.
Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below.
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Special thanks to everybody for listening. And thank you to Robert McOwen, Lance Ramshaw, Chris Murphy, Richard Kuhwarth, Mark Haynes, John Kerr, Will Coleman, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Joe Garrett, and Gerry Corr
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
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Music Heard on IMS Episode 29
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “Free the Heel,” from Kitchen Session
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “Dear Irish Boy,” from Swimming Against The Falls
Artist: Joey Abarta
Tune: “The Bull’s March,” from The Raven's Rock
Artist: Cillian Vallely
Tune: “Silver,” from Silver
Artist & Composer: Hanneke Cassel
Tune: “Grupai Ceol Memories,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Montage: Montage from The Travelling People
Artists: Various members of English Traveller Community, Produced by Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger & Charles Parker
Tune: “Dark Low Jig” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “Wicklow Hornpipe,” from Swimming Against The Falls
Artist: Joey Abarta
Song: “Terror Time,” from The Travelling People
Artists: Joe Heaney (voice)
Composer: Ewan MacColl
Tune: “Mutey Big Build” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Song: “Will Ye Go Lassie, Go,” from Wild Mountain Thyme
Artist: The McPeake Family
Tune: “A Chailleach Do Mharais Me/The Gold Ring,” from The Celtic Uilleann Pipes Collection - Volume 1
Artist: Brian Vallely
Tune: “Meaning of Life” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “Rakish Paddy,” from The Last of the Travelling Pipers
Artist: Felix Doran
Tune: “Drifting Clouds,,” from The Joy of First Year Piano
Composer: Denes Agay
Artist: Nigel Heaton
Tune: “Song of Dinotopia,” AKA Lift up your heads, Ye mighty Gates (Hymn #436) AKA TRURO, from Episcopal Hymnal
Composer: Lowell Mason (1792-1872), words Georg Weissel (1590-1635)
Artist: Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Pound the Floor” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: Jackie Coleman’s” reel from Music at Matt Molloy’s
Artists: Matt Molloy & Friends
Tune: “Siege of Ennis,” from Copley Records release
Artist: Johnny Powell and his Band
Tune: “Leaving JP” from Silver
Artist & Composer: Hanneke Cassel
Tune: “Liam O’ Súilleabhaín & Brístí Breaca” AKA Bill Sullivan’s & Britches Full of Stitches from Jackie Daly Agus Séamus Creagh
Artist: Jackie Daly & Séamus Creagh
Tune: “Job of Journeywork,” from Cover the Buckle
Artist: Séan Clohessy, Sean McComiskey & Kieran Jordan
Tune: “Little Bird Lullaby,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “Slow Reel,” from January EP
Artist: The Assembly
Tune: “Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel,” from House Session
Artists: Boston and Clare musicians
Tune: “Doberman’s Wallet,” from Malden Fiddle lesson
Artist: Tommy Peoples
Tune: “Triumph Theme,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton guitar
Tune: “The Traveller,” from Kitchen Session
Artists: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Wild Irishman & The Sailor’s Bonnet,” from Paddy Keenan
Artist: Paddy Keenan
Poem: “No Fixed Abode,” from Kitchen Session
Artist: Anne Marie Kennedy